Chausie Cat Breed… Everything You Need to Know at a Glance!

Although the name “Chausie” might sound like a Scottish nickname, the Chausie cat breed itself actually hails from the savannah and jungles of south east Asia, Egypt and the Middle East; where its wild, Jungle cat ancestors once prowled the land.

Which…

When you look at one, it’s not hard to image him or her “stalking” down prey like a full-grown lion might one the African Serengeti!

But just because…

The Chausie cat breed looks like a little baby doesn’t mean that you should run out and track down the nearest Chausie cat breeder and put down a deposit.  You’re going to want to first make sure that this is the “right” cat breed for you.

And by that we mean…

That the cat is going to behave in a manner that “fits” with your personality and lifestyle.  You see, there a certain cat breeds that are very active and require a lot of maintenance to keep healthy and happy, while other cat breeds simply like to lounge around the house all day and keep to themselves for the most part.

Now both “types” of…

Cats widely preferred by different “types” of folks.  This is why in this article we’re going to attempt to describe what it might be like to own a Chausie cat so that if you ever get a chance to own one of these awesome little creatures, you won’t regret your decision to do so six months later because they just aren’t the right “kind” of cat for you!

So, without further ado, let’s dive right in!

 

Chausie Cat Breed Fast Facts

Country of Origin:  Egypt

Size:  Medium to large

Weight:  9 to 15 pounds

Eyes:  Oval (gold, yellow, hazel or green)

Shape of Head:  Triangular

Life Span:  12 to 14 years

Origin of the Chausie cat breed

Probably one of the “coolest” things about the Chausie cat breed is that it did in fact, descend from wild Savannah cats. centuries ago.  Which means that it’s not some kind of “byproduct” of some clever cat breeder from the mid 1980’s looking to create a cat breed that appear wild!

You see…

This breed started first got its “start” as an early Egyptian domesticated cat were cross bred with “wilder” breeds that existed during these ancient times.  Back then, these cats would often live and wander around the ancient temples being cherished and often worshiped as “magical creatures”

Over the centuries…

These cross breeds where slowly further domesticated slowly became a part of the cultures from which they came from.

The really strange part…

About the history of the Chausie cat breeds history is that despite the fact that these cats have been around for centuries, it wasn’t until the mid-1990’s that an “official” breeding program was established and the cats were finally bred to their true potential.

Which is why…

It wasn’t until 1995 that The International Cat Association (or TICA) finally decided to “officially” recognize the breed – but some rules still apply.

Rules such as:

• A show cat must be at least four generations removed from a Jungle cat to be considered a true bred Chausie.

Which is fine…

By us here at IndulgeYourPet because we think it actually sounds pretty cool to have to say that…

“Yeah, my cat is 4 generations removed from the jungle!”

You can even…

Show off a little bit by letting folks know that the “origin” of this cat’s name actually refers to the Latin term… Felis Chaus, which actually means “jungle cat”.

The good news is that…

The US Cat Fanciers Association (CFA) has also choose to recognize the breed as well, but like the TICA, they too have many “strict” rules that Chausie breeders must adhere to in order to have their litters meet their “standards”.

Chausie cat breed Characteristics

Now as we’ve already mentioned, in order for a “Chausie cat” to be able to qualify as a Chausie cat, it must be at least four generations removed from its Jungle Cat ancestry.

That said however…

Over the years some Chausie cat breeders have choose to have other, more domesticated breeds intermingled within their bloodlines in order to improve certain cosmetic aspects of the cat so that future generations will better match the breed standard set by the CFA and TICA organizations.  Cat breeds such as the Kurilian Bobtail and the domestic Bengal.

Physically…

These cats are truly a joy to look at.  The really do “capture” the image of what one might think of when they think of “how” an ancient Egyptian cat should look like.

What with their…

Long lean body and long powerful legs, these guys just exude a quite confidence about them that few can deny.  And while an adult male should weigh no more than 15 pounds, because of they way that they are built, most folks will mistakenly think that they are much bigger than they actually are.

But don’t be fooled…

Just because these guys may not be the “biggest” cat on the block, they are packed full of muscle so be sure to never underestimate their strength or jumping ability for that matter.

Officially…

Chausie kittens to be solid black, black grizzled tabby or black ticked tabby – purely because only these three colors are recognized as ‘official’ breed colors, however, most will have a “golden” coat very similar to the color of an adult lion.

And while…

Their coat length can vary depending on ancestry and location, most Chausie cats will possess a shorthaired coat that will be easy to maintain.

Chausie cat breed temperament

Your Chausie will have an excellent nature. While some of them still cling to a streak of wild cat; the majority of this breed are docile, pleasant cats that absolutely need to have as much company as possible.

Remember…

The Chausie was bred to be worshiped… and it might well have been a few thousand years since they were “Temple cats”, that doesn’t mean that they still don’t seem to recognize the fact that they should be adored!

But remember…

Chausie’s are a highly intelligent breed that is still just a few generations removed from being a wild animal, so while you may feel like you need to pamper him or her, in truth, your Chausie will be equally suited to the rivers of the jungle as it is to living in your front room.

And while it may…

Be happier that it doesn’t have to hunt its own prey to get a bite to eat, that doesn’t mean that he isn’t going to want to chase things around.  – but you can never have enough toys to keep this cat entertained.

The Chausie…

Is also a great cat to have with children and will settle in with most types of dog breeds as well. The only problem is that if you are planning on keeping both the cat and dog inside, you might want to take a few extra precautions with securing your homes doors because these guys have a great “knack” at using door handles which could mean the release of both your Chausie and your dog!

“You have been warned!”

Health concerns associated with the Chausie cat breed.

One added benefit the Chausie cat breed has other pedigree cats is that because they are closely removed from their “wild” heritage, these cats haven’t had enough time to develop many of the inheritable disease that many other “over bred” pedigree cats have.

As a result…

The Chausie cat breed is one of the “healthiest” cat breeds out there.  But remember, just because the Chausie cat breed is a healthy one, this doesn’t mean that you should do your due diligence before purchasing a Chausie kitten.

You want to make sure that…

The breeder that you choose is a reputable one and be sure that if you are in the United States that you also ascertain whether or not your Chausie is legal where you live, as they are still considered wild cats in some areas. Likewise…

If you have a second or third generation Chausie over a fourth generation. There is a high likelihood that they will retain more wild features than tame. Your Chausie might be a little wild, and that is definitely something to consider if you have kiddies.

To own a first-generation wildcat descendant in Britain you must have a special license and keep it in a cage… so you can see why TICA have such strong rules about what constitutes a true Chausie.

And Finally…

If you’re sure that a Chausie cat is right for you, and you’ve done all your due diligence, don’t forget to also take a look at what it might cost you to purchase a pet insurance policy on your new guy.

This way if…

Your Chausie does become sick or injured in the future, you won’t be on the “hook” for 100% of her or her medical bills and instead of wondering how much everything is going to cost, you can focus on providing your pet with the “best” possible care available.

For more information about who we feel currently offers the “best” pet insurance policies in the industry, be sure to check out our Best Pet Insurance Companies article.